Till Dominic Lerch

Dr. Till Dominic Lerch


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 April 2017 in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
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Journal Article
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TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
SSSimon Damian Steppacher
Simon Damian Steppacher
ELEmanuel Francis Liechti
Emanuel Francis Liechti
MTMoritz Tannast
Moritz Tannast
KSKlaus Arno Siebenrock
Klaus Arno Siebenrock
Tification of factors associated with poor outcome could help to improve patient selection. Questions/purposes Looking at the initial group of patients with hip dysplasia undergoing PAO at the originator's institution, we asked: (1) What is the cumulative 30-year survival rate free from conversion to THA, radiographic progression of osteoarthritis, and/or a Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15? (2) Did hip function improve and pain decrease? (3) Did radiographic osteoarthritis progress? (4) What are the factors associated with one or more of the three endpoints: THA, radiographic progression of osteoarthritis, and/or Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15? Methods We retrospectively evaluated the first 63 patients (75 hips) who underwent PAO for hip dysplasia between 1984 and 1987. At that time, hip dysplasia was the only indication for PAO and no patients with acetabular retroversion, the second indication for a PAO performed today, were included. During that period, no other surgical treatment for hip dysplasia in patients with closed triradiate cartilage was performed. Advanced osteoarthritis (≥ Grade 2 according to Tönnis) was present preoperatively in 18 hips (24%) and 22 patients (23 hips [31%]) had previous femoral and/or acetabular surgery. Thirty-nine patients (42 hips [56%]) were converted to a THA and one patient (one hip [1%]) had hip fusion at latest followup. Two patients (three hips [4%]) died from a cause unrelated to surgery 6 and 16 years after surgery with an uneventful followup. From the remaining 21 patients (29 hips), the mean followup was 29 years (range, 27-32 years). Of those, five patients (six hips [8%]) did not return for the most recent followup and only a questionnaire was available. The cumulative survivorship of the hip according to Kaplan-Meier was calculated if any of the three endpoints, including conversion to THA, progression of osteoarthritis by at least one grade according to Tönnis, and/or a Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15, occurred. Hip pain and function were assessed with Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score, Harris hip score, limp, and anterior and posterior impingement tests. Progression of radiographic osteoarthritis was assessed with Tönnis grades. A Cox regression model was used to calculate factors associated with the previously defined endpoints. Results The cumulative survivorship free from conversion to THA, radiographic progression of osteoarthritis, and/or Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15 was 29% (95% confidence interval, 17%-42%) at 30 years. No improvement was found for either the Merle d'Aubigné-Postel (15 ± 2 versus 16 ± 2, p = 0.144) or Harris hip score (83 ± 11 versus 85 ± 17, p = 0.602). The percentage of a positive anterior impingement test (39% versus 14%, p = 0.005) decreased at 30-year followup, whereas the percentage of a positive posterior impingement test (14% versus 3%, p = 0.592) did not decrease. The percentage of positive limp decreased from preoperatively 66% to 18% at 30-year followup (p < 0.001). Mean osteoarthritis grade (Tönnis) increased from preoperatively 0.8 ± 1 (0-3) to 2.1 ± 1 (0-3) at 30-year followup (p < 0.001). Ten factors associated with poor outcome defined as THA, radiographic progression of osteoarthritis, and/or Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15 were found: preoperative age > 40 years (hazard ratio [HR] 4.3 [3.7-4.9]), a preoperative Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score < 15 (HR 4.1 [3.5-4.6]), a preoperative Harris hip score < 70 (HR 5.8 [5.2-6.4]), preoperative limp (HR 1.7 [1.4-1.9]), presence of a preoperative positive anterior impingement test (HR 3.6 [3.1-4.2]), presence of a preoperative positive posterior impingement test (HR 2.5 [1.7-3.2]), a preoperative internal rotation of < 20° (HR 4.3 [3.7-4.9]), a preoperative Tönnis Grade > 1 (HR 5.7 [5.0-6.4]), a postoperative anterior coverage > 27% (HR 3.2 [2.5-3.9]), and a postoperative acetabular retroversion (HR 4.8 [3.4-6.3]). Conclusions Thirty years postoperatively, 29% of hips undergoing PAO for hip dysplasia can be preserved, but more than 70% will develop progressive osteoarthritis, pain, and/or undergo THA. Periacetabular osteotomy is an effective technique to treat symptomatic hip dysplasia in selected and young patients with closed triradiate cartilage. Hips with advanced joint degeneration (osteoarthritis Tönnis Grade ≥ 2) should not be treated with PAO. Postoperative anterior acetabular overcoverage or postoperative acetabular retroversion were associated with decreased joint survival. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study....

22 September 2017 in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
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Journal Article
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TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
ITInga Almut Senta Todorski
Inga Almut Senta Todorski
SSSimon D. Steppacher
Simon D. Steppacher
FSFlorian Schmaranzer
Florian Schmaranzer
SWStefan F. Werlen
Stefan F. Werlen
MTMoritz Tannast
Moritz Tannast
Background: Variations in femoral and acetabular version are becoming increasingly recognized as contributing factors to the development of hip pain in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip dysplasia. It is still unknown what the true prevalence of these rotational abnormalities is in this patient population. Purpose: To determine (1) the prevalence of femoral version abnormalities in symptomatic hips with FAI and hip dysplasia, (2) the prevalence of combined abnormalities of femoral and acetabular version in these patients, and (3) which specific hip morphologies are associated with abnormalities of femoral version. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 462 symptomatic patients (538 hips) were included who had hip pain attributed to FAI or hip dysplasia and who presented to our tertiary referral center for hip preservation surgery between 2011 and 2015. We retrospectively examined femoral and acetabular version among 11 subgroups with predefined hip morphologies and compared findings with a control group. The allocation to each subgroup was based on morphologic reference values for femoral head coverage, lateral center edge angle, alpha angle, and neck-shaft angle calculated on plain radiographs. Results: Of the 538 hips included, 52% were found to have abnormal femoral version; severe abnormalities were found in 17%. Severely decreased femoral version (35°), in 12%. The most frequent abnormal combination was increased femoral version combined with normal acetabular version (22%). We found significantly lower mean femoral version for the cam-type FAI group (15°) and significantly higher mean femoral version for the Perthes hips (32°; ie, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease) as compared with the control group (22°). The mean femoral version of the study group was 19°; for male patients, 15°; and for female patients, 22°. Conclusion: Abnormalities in femoral version are highly prevalent in patients with hip pain who are eligible for hip preservation surgery, and severe abnormalities are prevalent in 1 of 6 patients (17%). Based on these results, the evaluation of young patients with hip pain should always include an assessment of femoral version and acetabular version to best decide what treatment approach should be undertaken to optimize outcomes.

7 January 2019 in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
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Journal Article
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FSFlorian Schmaranzer
Florian Schmaranzer
TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
KSKlaus A. Siebenrock
Klaus A. Siebenrock
MTMoritz Tannast
Moritz Tannast
SSSimon D. Steppacher
Simon D. Steppacher
Background: Correct quantification of femoral torsion is crucial to diagnose torsional deformities, make an indication for surgical treatment, or plan the amount of correction. However, no clear evaluation of different femoral torsion measurement methods for hips with excessive torsion has been performed to date. Questions/purposes: (1) How does CT-based measurement of femoral torsion differ among five commonly used measurement methods? (2) Do differences in femoral torsion among measurement methods increase in hips with excessive femoral torsion? (3) What is the reliability and reproducibility of each of the five torsion measurement methods? Methods: Between March and August 2016, we saw 86 new patients (95 hips) with hip pain and physical findings suggestive for femoroacetabular impingement at our outpatient tertiary clinic. Of those, 56 patients (62 hips) had a pelvic CT scan including the distal femur for measurement of femoral torsion. We excluded seven patients (seven hips) with previous hip surgery, two patients (two hips) with sequelae of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, and one patient (one hip) with a posttraumatic deformity. This resulted in 46 patients (52 hips) in the final study group with a mean age of 28 ± 9 years (range, 17–51 years) and 27 female patients (59%). Torsion was compared among five commonly used assessment measures, those of Lee et al., Reikerås et al., Jarrett et al., Tomczak et al., and Murphy et al. They differed regarding the level of the anatomic landmark for the proximal femoral neck axis; the method of Lee had the most proximal definition followed by the methods of Reikerås, Jarrett, and Tomczak at the base of the femoral neck and the method of Murphy with the most distal definition at the level of the lesser trochanter. The definition of the femoral head center and of the distal reference was consistent for all five measurement methods. We used the method described by Murphy et al. as our baseline measurement method for femoral torsion because it reportedly most closely reflects true anatomic femoral torsion. With this method we found a mean femoral torsion of 28 ± 13°. Mean values of femoral torsion were compared among the five methods using multivariate analysis of variance. All differences between two of the measurement methods were plotted over the entire range of femoral torsion to evaluate a possible increase in hips with excessive femoral torsion. All measurements were performed by two blinded orthopaedic residents (FS, TDL) at two different occasions to measure intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: We found increasing values for femoral torsion using measurement methods with a more distal definition of the proximal femoral neck axis: Lee et al. (most proximal definition: 11° ± 11°), Reikerås et al. (15° ± 11°), Jarrett et al. (19° ± 11°), Tomczak et al. (25° ± 12°), and Murphy et al. (most distal definition: 28° ± 13°). The most pronounced difference was found for the comparison between the methods of Lee et al. and Murphy et al. with a mean difference of 17° ± 5° (95% confidence interval, 16°–19°; p < 0.001). For six of 10 possible pairwise comparisons, the difference between two methods increased with increasing femoral torsion and decreased with decreasing femoral torsion. We observed a fair-to-strong linear correlation (R range, 0.306–0.622; all p values < 0.05) for any method compared with the Murphy method and for the Reikerås and Jarrett methods when compared with the Tomczak method. For example, a hip with 10° of femoral antetorsion according Murphy had a torsion of 1° according to Reikerås, which corresponds to a difference of 9°. This difference increased to 20° in hips with excessive torsion; for example, a hip with 60° of torsion according to Murphy had 40° of torsion according to Reikerås. All five methods for measuring femoral torsion showed excellent agreement for both intraobserver reproducibility (ICC, 0.905–0.973) and interobserver reliability (ICC, 0.938–0.969). Conclusions: Because the quantification of femoral torsion in hips with excessive femoral torsion differs considerably among measurement methods, it is crucial to state the applied methods when reporting femoral torsion and to be consistent regarding the used measurement method. These differences have to be considered for surgical decision-making and planning the degree of correction. Neglecting the differences among measurement methods to quantify femoral torsion can potentially lead to misdiagnosis and surgical planning errors. Level of Evidence: Level IV, diagnostic study.

20 September 2019 in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
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Journal Article
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TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
ABAdam Boschung
Adam Boschung
ITInga Almut Senta Todorski
Inga Almut Senta Todorski
SSSimon D. Steppacher
Simon D. Steppacher
FSFlorian Schmaranzer
Florian Schmaranzer
MTMoritz Tannast
Moritz Tannast
It remains unclear whether decreased femoral version (FV) causes anterior intra- or extra-articular femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Therefore, we evaluated symptomatic hips with decreased FV, with and without cam and pincer FAI, by using computed tomography (CT)–based virtual 3-dimensional (3D) impingement simulation and compared this group with patients with normal FV and with asymptomatic hips. To investigate (1) the osseous range of motion, (2) the osseous femoral and acetabular impingement zones, and (3) whether hip impingement is extra- or intra-articular in symptomatic hips with FAI. Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. An institutional review board–approved, retrospective comparative analysis was performed on a total of 84 hips in 68 participants. Of these, 37 hips in 24 symptomatic patients with FAI had decreased FV. These hips were compared with 21 hips of 18 symptomatic patients with anterior FAI with normal FV (10°-25°) and 26 asymptomatic hips with no FAI and normal FV. All patients with FAI were symptomatic and had anterior hip pain and a positive anterior impingement test. They underwent pelvic CT scans to measure FV. Decreased FV was defined as FV less than 5°. The 37 hips with decreased FV presented both with and without cam and pincer FAI. All 84 hips were evaluated by use of CT-based 3D models and a validated 3D range of motion and impingement simulation. Asymptomatic hips were contralateral normal hips imaged in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Hips with FAI combined with decreased FV had a significantly (P < .001) lower mean flexion (114°± 8° vs 125°± 13°) and internal rotation (IR) at 90° of flexion (18°± 6° vs 32°± 9°, P < .001) compared with the asymptomatic control group. Symptomatic patients with FAI and normal FV had flexion of 120°± 16° and IR at 90° of flexion of 23°± 15°. In a subgroup analysis, we found a significantly (P < .001) lower IR in 90° of flexion in hips with FV less than 5° combined with mixed-type FAI compared with hips with FV less than 5° without a cam- or pincer-type deformity. The maximal acetabular impingement zone for hips with decreased FV was located at the 2-o’clock position and ranged from 1 to 3 o’clock. In hips with decreased FV, most of the impingement locations were intra-articular but 32% of hips had combined intra- and extra-articular FAI in internal rotation in 90° of flexion. During the flexion-adduction-IR test performed in 10° and 20° of adduction, extra-articular subspine FAI had significantly (P < .001) higher prevalence (68% and 84%) in hips with decreased FV compared with normal hips. Hips with FAI and decreased FV had less flexion and internal rotation in 90° of flexion compared with the asymptomatic control group. The majority of hip impingement due to low FV was intra-articular, but one-third of samples had combined intra- and extra-articular subspine FAI. Anterior extra- and intra-articular hip impingement can be present in patients who have FAI with decreased FV. This could be important for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy.

1 July 2014 in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
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Journal Article
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SSS.D. Steppacher
S.D. Steppacher
TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
KGK. Gharanizadeh
K. Gharanizadeh
ELE.F. Liechti
E.F. Liechti
SWS.F. Werlen
S.F. Werlen
KSK.A. Siebenrock
K.A. Siebenrock

1 April 2017 in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Verified
Journal Article
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KZKai Ziebarth
Kai Ziebarth
MMMilan Milosevic
Milan Milosevic
TLTill Dominic Lerch
Till Dominic Lerch
SSSimon D. Steppacher
Simon D. Steppacher
TSTheddy Slongo
Theddy Slongo
KSKlaus A. Siebenrock
Klaus A. Siebenrock
With the procedure and mid- to long-term data on clinical outcomes, reoperations, and complications are sparse. Questions/Purposes Among patients treated with a modified Dunn procedure for SCFE, we report on (1) hip pain and function as measured by the Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score, Drehmann sign, anterior impingement test, limp, and ROM; (2) the cumulative survivorship at minimum 10-year followup with endpoints of osteoarthritis (OA) progression (at least one Tönnis grade), subsequent THA, or a Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score < 15; (3) radiographic anatomy of the proximal femur measured by slip angle, α angle, Klein line, and sphericity index; and (4) the risk of subsequent surgery and complications. Methods Between 1998 and 2005, all patients who presented to our institution with SCFE were treated with a modified Dunn procedure; this approach was applied regardless of whether the slips were mild or severe, acute or chronic, and all were considered potentially eligible here. Of the 43 patients (43 hips) thus treated during that time, 42 (98%) were available for a minimum 10-year followup (mean, 12 years; range, 10-17 years) and complete radiographic and clinical followup was available on 38 hips (88%). The mean age of the patients was 13 years (range, 9-18 years). Ten hips (23%) presented with a mild, 27 hips (63%) with a moderate, and six hips (14%) with a severe slip angle. Pain and function were measured using the Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score, limp, ROM, and the presence of a positive anterior impingement test or Drehmann sign. Cumulative survivorship was calculated according to the method of Kaplan-Meier with three defined endpoints: (1) progression by at least one grade of OA according to Tönnis; (2) subsequent THA; or (3) a Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score < 15. Radiographic anatomy was assessed with the slip angle, Klein line, α angle, and sphericity index. Results The Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score improved at the latest followup from 13 ± 2 (7-14) to 17 ± 1 (14-18; p < 0.001), the prevalence of limp decreased from 47% (18 of 38 hips) to 0% (none in 38 hips; p < 0.001), the prevalence of a positive Drehmann sign decreased from 50% (nine of 18 hips) to 0% (none in 38 hips; p < 0.001), and both flexion and internal rotation improved meaningfully. Cumulative survivorship was 93% at 10 years (95% confidence interval, 85%-100%). Radiographic anatomy improved, but secondary impingement deformities remained in some patients, and secondary surgical procedures included nine hips (21%) with screw removal and six hips (14%) undergoing open procedures for impingement deformities. Complications occurred in four hips (9%) and no hips demonstrated avascular necrosis on plain radiographs. Conclusions In this series, the modified Dunn procedure largely corrected slip deformities with little apparent risk of progression to avascular necrosis or THA and high hip scores at 10 years. However, secondary impingement deformities persisted in some hips and of those some underwent further surgical corrections. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study....